Matt Booty After Closing Tango: 'We Need Smaller Games That Give Us Prestige and Awards' - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 08 May 2024 / 4,158 Views
Xbox this week announced it is shutting down three studios at Bethesda - Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Studios - as well as merging Roundhouse Games with ZeniMax Online Studios.
Microsoft Gaming president of game content and studios Matt Booty a day following the closures held a town hall meeting with ZeniMax. He told employees Xbox needs smaller games that will give the company "prestige and awards."
"We need smaller games that give us prestige and awards," said Booty, according to those who attended the meeting who spoke with The Verge.
Tango Gameworks released a smaller title last year with Hi-Fi Rush, which was praised by critics. It would go on to top three million players by August 2023.
Microsoft's GM of Xbox games marketing Aaron Greenberg called Hi-Fi Rush a "break out hit" and it met "all key measurements and expectations."
Microsoft has previously stated it wants to release more Japanese games on Xbox consoles and in the end they shut down their only Japanese studio they owned.
Bloomberg reported Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks were both looking to hire more employees as they pitch new games before they were closed.
Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-action game that was announced and released on the same day in January 2023 for the Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass. It would later release for the PlayStation 5 in March 2024.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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This is straight up gaslighting at this point.
It feels like it happends all the time, xbox say one thing, and do another. Its been going on for like 10+ years.
This is so unreal it has to be an SNL skit.
Just another corporate disingenuous scumbag. MS had the seeds of greatness with Tango Gameworks and they still decided to burn it to the ground.
Absolutely agree. I find it unbelievable, Microsoft has billions of times more money than anyone else, but they are only interested in “statistics” and “buying up”. ps. According to rumors, Shinji Mikami is working on a brand new IP for PlayStation 5, the first reveal could come by the end of the year. Hope it comes true :) Shinji will definitely hire some ex-workers in the new studio too.
Bunch of clowns
Rubbing salt on the wound, I see...
I've never seen such incompetence in my life.
I have. Embracer Group.
Your thumbnail game is on point here, Trunks. lol
lol, i mean... lmao, thats is just absurd! Yeah, Xbox needs new leadership.
So was he protesting against what the higher-ups did to Tango, or is he just straight trolling the fans?
"Microsoft has previously stated it wants to release more Japanese games on Xbox consoles and in the end they shut down their only Japanese studio they owned." This is the big one.... I just dont get xbox's tactics at all.
Translation: Cheaper games for GP, of which MS are considering raising the price for.
Um, what? Is that not exactly what Hi-Fi Rush was?
Thats the point... its odd, its another one of those PR talks, that sounds good, but when it comes down to it, xbox doesnt stick with it, or does something counter to it.
Remember all Xbox 1st party titles, day and date, on gamepass ? Watch Call of Duty come out, and not be there. Its too much money lost, and if its not, it will prove gamepass cant sustain big titles.
The more it goes the more I think that the 360 era was just a happy accident by Microsoft
How long have I been saying Matt Booty is an incompetent clown.
Way too late for people to start complaining now. The damage he has done to Xbox is obvious & immense.
This guy was directly responsible for the Halo Infinite debacle. Xbox premier game series, and he oversaw that disaster. That should have finished him, but Instead of Booty getting fired, Phil Spencer keep him on. Insanity.
Xbox deserves all the failure they have coming.
Other consoles are a disgrace too, but Xbox is the worst at the moment.
This is the result when you view employees--and small studios--as disposable resources.
Six months from now they'll probably go on a shopping spree for popular up-and-coming developers, let them release one game, then close them down so they can free up room for the next acquisition.
wow, thousands of Xbox fans are currently selling their Xbox. Even popular Xbox fans (since xbox1 days) have been posting pictures on Insta/Twitter of how they bought a PlayStation 5 today.
Take Matt Booty out of control and only listen to your investors when the division doesn't generate revenue that can cover its expenses... That's the only thing I ask of Satya Nadella...
If you are going to destroy historic studios, then sell the games division, as it makes no sense to buy, not invest, wait for revenues to increase and then close them.
